This publication contains preliminary statistics on the composition and distribution of employee earnings, as well as information on how employees' pay is set - by award or pay scale only, collective agreement or individual arrangement. The statistics are based on the Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours conducted in respect of August 2008.

Final estimates will be published in Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, August 2008 (cat. no. 6306.0).

AVERAGE WEEKLY TOTAL CASH EARNINGS

Average weekly total cash earnings was $964.80 for all employees, $1153.90 for male employees and $768.10 for female employees.

Average weekly total cash earnings was $1258.60 for full-time adult employees, $1239.30 for all full-time employees and $440.40 for all part-time employees.

Average weekly total cash earnings for employees in the public sector was $1139.40 compared with $923.20 in the private sector.

Average weekly total cash earnings for all employees was highest in the Mining industry ($2038.30) and lowest in the Accommodation and food services industry ($451.60).

Average Weekly Total Cash Earnings, August 2008

METHODS OF SETTING PAY

In August 2008, the most common methods of setting pay for all employees was collective agreements (39.9%) and registered or unregistered individual arrangements (37.7%). Males were more likely to have their pay set by a registered or unregistered individual arrangement (42.1%) and females by a collective agreement (43.1%).

The Accommodation and food services industry had the highest proportion of employees whose pay was set by award or pay scale only (52.3%), the Public administration and safety industry had the highest proportion of employees whose pay was set by collective agreement (87.7%), and the Wholesale trade industry had the highest proportion of employees whose pay was set by a registered or unregistered individual arrangement (75.0%).